Chapter 73 073 Your subject will not fail you.
Gao Shao remained silent.
Gao Shao remained silent.
She saw the book title, but... was this suitable to read? Although she wouldn't openly use those two names, anyone with eyes could tell who they were, right? She wondered which busybody wrote it; it must have been a court official, right?
"What's going on between His Majesty and Xie Lanzhao?" Zhao Xianju's gossipy interest was piqued, her eyes widening as she looked expectantly at her consort.
Gao Shao sighed and shook his head, saying, "I don't know."
Zhao Xianju scoffed, "Do you think I don't know? Every time you argue with me, you go to Xie Lanzhao to complain. Doesn't she confide in you during those conversations?"
Gao Shao asked, "Does Your Highness think Xie Lanzhao is someone who can open up to others?"
Now it was Zhao Xianju's turn to be speechless. Who knew what Xie Lanzhao was thinking? She raised an eyebrow, her eyes filled with a hint of arrogant disdain: "So it's just you confiding in me." She chuckled, "After all, Xie Lanzhao won't reveal everything, will she?"
Gao Shao: "..." She held "The Deep Spring of the Ming Dynasty Locked in the Imperial Secretariat" in both hands, adopting a respectful posture, "Your Highness, please read the book."
Isn't this more interesting than bringing up old grievances?
The palace and the common people weren't completely separated by a high wall; folk tales circulating among the people were also sent to the palace by the flow of people. The palace maids, only looking for amusement, were terrified at the first glance of the book's title. They hesitated for a moment between destroying it and reporting it, ultimately choosing the latter. When Yin'e finally received the book, she only choked slightly, but her anxious heart settled down.
I thought it was some kind of treasonous banned book.
The book was naturally confiscated when it fell into Zhao Jialing's hands. With nothing else to do, he flipped through a few pages and muttered to himself, "The characters in the book are far more promising than I am."
"[Host, are you not planning to order a book ban?]" the Wise Ruler System inquired.
"No." Zhao Jialing answered readily, "Go ahead and spread it." The fact that her elder sister and Gao Shao's affair was easily accepted didn't mean hers was. As the emperor, she bore heavy responsibilities; the word "heir" was constantly on the lips of her court officials, who frequently submitted memorials regarding the crucial matter of selecting concubines. It was only because she had been so busy for the past six months that those loyal and patriotic ministers had quieted down somewhat.
After flipping through a few more pages, Zhao Jialing's brows furrowed and relaxed intermittently. After a long while, she closed the book, sighed, and said with a devout expression, "May the Heavenly Venerable grant boundless blessings; the ideals of myself and Minister Xie are above."
Wise Ruler System: "..."
In mid-August, the cement roads of Hengjie and Tianjie were opened to traffic. Not only these two streets, but also the street east of the Imperial City and Palace City, along Xing'anmen, Yanximen, and Jingfengmen, was paved with cement. Zhuque Avenue was an important street running through Chang'an, and it was already much better than other streets in terms of dust and mud prevention, but compared with the cement roads, it was far inferior.
Many officials were actually skeptical, but since the chief ministers had all agreed, and their advice was useless, they had no choice but to follow the crowd. They understood the precarious situation of "if you don't agree today, you might be forced to agree tomorrow." Their attitudes changed slightly during the journey, and they could still appreciate the slight change in comfort. What truly made them realize the magnitude of the cement project was a heavy rain.
The court will not be shut down because of a heavy rain; as for how to proceed, that depends on each party's abilities. When the weather turns bad, misfortunes often follow, such as being impeached by the Imperial Censor or having one's salary deducted for "disrespectful conduct before the Emperor."
The rumbling of the vehicle echoed as its wheels sank deep into the muddy streets, leaving deep ruts in the puddles and mud. Compared to being stuck in a ditch, where the vehicle merely wobbled, that was a minor matter. The farther one lived from the Daming Palace, the more torment one endured. Once the vehicle finally reached the paved road after the bumpy ride, the smoothness suddenly seemed like a breathtaking experience against the backdrop of the torment that had followed.
When his colleagues casually boasted, his pent-up resentment swelled even more in his heart.
"Oh dear, luckily I live in Chongrenfang. Once I step out of the crossroads, there's a smooth avenue. I got up in a hurry, but I didn't expect to arrive too early."
"You look quite disheveled, with dark eyebrows and a grimy face. Be careful not to be impeached by the Imperial Censor."
...
Having gotten up so early and endured a bumpy ride in the carriage, it's no wonder he looked so cheerful.
At the court assembly, before Zhao Jialing could even mention continuing the road construction, an official with his official tablet presented his objection. He lived in a rented house in Yongning Ward, requiring him to cross half of Chang'an to attend the assembly. He repeatedly objected to the road construction, arguing that it was "a waste of resources and manpower," but no one could dissuade him. He genuinely didn't understand; hadn't he always traveled the same road in the past, even when it was windy, rainy, or snowy? But after experiencing the smoothness of the concrete road during a sudden downpour, he finally understood.
His Majesty's words are supreme wisdom; it is his own dullness and lack of discernment that blinds him to the bigger picture.
If someone can cite classical texts to try to stop a policy, they can also use their silver tongue to exaggerate its merits.
The core message is clear: not only should the Vermilion Bird Avenue in Chang'an be repaired, but also the roads in the city. In short, the roads should be extended to Luoyang, to Taiyuan, and to the ends of the earth, so that the people may bask in the boundless grace of the emperor.
The official's impassioned speech was very moving, and Zhao Jialing raised an eyebrow as he glanced at his face.
[Third Prince, if I remember correctly, he was the one who raised objections when the road construction first started, right?]
[The host is not mistaken.]
The divine voice descended upon the hall, stirring the hearts of the courtiers. For the past six months, they had developed a bad habit: hoping to hear the Emperor's dialogue with the gods. Firstly, it would spare them the fear of making a mistake, and secondly, they could hear the gods utter some earth-shattering pronouncements. The courtiers got their wish, but the official who had delivered the speech was embarrassed; even his impassioned tone faltered, and finally, his voice slowly faded.
"Didn't Chen Shiyi oppose road construction before? He said it would be a waste of manpower and money, and futile." A loud, carefree voice rang out.
Zhao Jialing remained silent, but many others stood up for him and slapped him in the face.
Chen Shiyi knew, of course, that he had objected before, but if no one brought it up, he could simply pretend not to know, and the matter would be easily resolved. But his inner voice reminded him, causing the barely suppressed embarrassment to spread like a flood, almost overwhelming him. What was even more annoying was that every time he attended court, a military officer, who acted as if it were none of his business and was completely oblivious to the situation, would suddenly jump out and speak, his booming voice as if he wanted everyone to hear him. Why hadn't any censor impeached the military officer for his inappropriate behavior?
He said in a panic, "It is my ignorance that makes me fail to understand Your Majesty's good intentions." The ancestral temples and the sages have bestowed blessings upon Your Majesty, and Your Majesty has received divine favor. Everyone has witnessed this. Why did he have to say a few more words?
Zhao Jialing waved his hand, indicating he wouldn't hold a grudge against Chen Shiyi. A slap was enough; it would teach these guys to be careful with their words and actions, and not to rush to oppose everything. Chen Shiyi hadn't reached the point where he couldn't be trusted, so Zhao Jialing gently let the matter drop. The road construction was important, but what required his attention right now was the "final stage" of the purge of the powerful clans.
The lists submitted by the lower levels were somewhat alarming. In cases of illegal land clearing and concealment of displaced people's land, lower-level clerks in the prefectures and counties played a significant role. This dynasty inherited the old system from the previous one, with officials and clerks separated into different circuits. In selecting clerks, those skilled in writing and accounting, and knowledgeable in mundane affairs, were chosen—the requirements were quite low. There were capable clerks, but many lacked a sense of the bigger picture.
"Officials who use pens and scalpels are just like petty people. They are often corrupt and extremely hateful."
"These people abuse their power, manipulate the law, embezzle and accept bribes, deceive their superiors and subordinates, and harm the world. They are truly despicable and want to seize the power of county officials."
“County officials are mostly subservient to clerks, making them merely figureheads. I believe they should be severely punished.”
...
The court officials were eager to speak, but Zhao Jialing frowned slightly, growing impatient. She abruptly stood up and impatiently interrupted, "I am not here to hear you all denounce the clerks; I want solutions! Don't you all have an answer to why these clerks are so burdened with unfulfilled duties?"
The court officials were speechless. Many of them had come from the prefectures and counties to Chang'an, and had often worked with clerks and clerks in their local areas, so they were well aware of the situation. After a moment of silence, one official cautiously reported, "Clerks and clerks have been working in the local areas for many years, unlike court officials who are reassigned every three years. Moreover, clerks and clerks are familiar with the laws and regulations. Faced with an endless number of laws and regulations, how can a county magistrate possibly remember them all? Each official has a post and department, with at most a few people, but the number of clerks and clerks is countless. Furthermore, most court officials are from aristocratic families, whether through hereditary privilege or by participating in the imperial examinations. They have little formal education in the classics, and only a small fraction of them are knowledgeable in administrative affairs. On the other hand, a considerable number of clerks and clerks are well-versed in law, skilled in litigation, and knowledgeable in matters of finance, accounting, and other practical matters... County magistrates cannot do without clerks and clerks. Controlling them is a last resort."
"Why are you all so ignorant of official matters? Is it because you despise them?" Zhao Jialing said coolly. She knew that most of what this man said was true. Some things are hard to change fundamentally, but could a clerk really have absolute power? It was obvious that they were exaggerating and trying to shift the blame onto the clerks, who were "not of our kind." After all, in that era, most scholars refused to serve as clerks; for example, officials in charge of the three provinces were considered shameful by scholars.
The court assembly failed to reach a consensus. The officials' intention was, as in the past, to severely punish corrupt officials and promote the virtues of honest bureaucrats as a deterrent. Xie Lanzhao, however, mentioned that the corruption of clerks stemmed from a lack of stipends. Clerks in prefectures and counties were more like "laborers," receiving meager or nonexistent salaries, with no hope of advancement. These clerks also had families to support, making their willingness to take risks obvious. Providing them with salaries could alleviate their financial difficulties.
"There's still a long way to go before we can truly break down the barriers between those within and outside the official ranks," Zhao Jialing remarked privately to Xie Lanzhao. Those within and outside the official ranks were completely separate systems with their own independent promotion channels. Officials outside the ranks could transfer to those within, but reaching the position of a minor official of the seventh or eighth rank in one of the three provinces was the limit; some prestigious officials simply wouldn't allow clerks from outside the ranks to even get a foothold. This social climate prevented Zhao Jialing from issuing a direct decree, as it would offend the entire scholar-official class.
"For now, we can only make some minor adjustments," Xie Lanzhao said. No one is lower in rank than a clerk; in the eyes of scholars, such people are corrupt and cannot be ranked with them. During Emperor Taizong's reign, a clerk from the Secretariat participated in the imperial examinations. After passing, Taizong directly revoked the clerk's imperial edict, stating that a clerk had acted rashly, and that the imperial examinations were for scholars, not for clerks to steal academic titles. Although Taizong did not issue an explicit edict prohibiting clerks from taking the examinations, a line of defense had effectively been established to prevent them from doing so.
After mentioning the old stories of the Taizong era to Zhao Jialing, Xie Lanzhao sighed: "The distinction between the inner and outer streams must be promoted along with the reform of Mingde Academy and the imperial examination system, and what these require most is time."
Zhao Jialing complained, "Our ancestors were so ignorant of the bigger picture, and now they've put me in a difficult position."
Xie Lanzhao: "..." This was not a response a subject could give. She said, "'Cement' is enough to demonstrate the great use of Zhengde Academy. Perhaps next year, His Majesty will issue an edict to the prefectures and counties to build academies." Perhaps not even next year, once the news reached the prefectures and counties through books and journals, those with some ambition would probably get ahead and start building academies before the edict even arrived. After all, with the advent of printing, books for teaching were no secret.
Zhao Jialing suddenly had a thought: "Students from the two Imperial Colleges who pass the examinations can directly participate in the provincial examinations. What about Mingde Academy? Can it be like the Imperial College? If its students participate in the imperial examinations, will anyone object?"
Xie Lanzhao frowned. The imperial examinations had been changed to once every three years, with the next one scheduled for the eighth year of the Tianfu era. Time was tight, but with divine assistance, it wasn't impossible. After pondering for a while, she truthfully replied, "That depends on the weight of Mingde Academy."
It wasn't good news, but Zhao Jialing perked up immediately upon hearing this. She raised an eyebrow and laughed heartily, "Then let's take it as a great goal. I'll make a pact with you to strive for the students of Mingde Academy to be at the forefront in the next round of imperial examinations."
Xie Lanzhao's expression turned solemn. She gazed at Zhao Jialing's smiling face, then bowed deeply to her, saying, "Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail you!"
Zhao Jialing was overjoyed. She said "Ai" and added, "Just talk? If you inscribe it and put your seal on it, I'll have it framed."
If she were to actually write an inscription, her expression of loyalty would definitely be twisted into something else entirely. Xie Lanzhao saw through Zhao Jialing's little scheme at a glance. She nodded, a slight smile appearing on her face, and asked, "Does Your Majesty wish me to write anything else? I'd like to write it all at once."
The unexpected answer left Zhao Jialing stunned. At this crucial moment, he finally stopped being a clueless fool. His mind raced, and he quickly came up with a clever idea: "Then you decide?" He was leaving the problem to Xie Lanzhao, letting her do what she could. At least she could get a "good result" instead of missing out on a great opportunity because of his own lack of effort and ending up empty-handed. "You can write here. I'll have Yin'e prepare paper and pen," Zhao Jialing added.
He gave the order as soon as he was told, as if he was afraid Xie Lanzao would change her mind.
The paper and pen arrived, and Zhao Jialing personally ground the ink. She didn't know what she wanted, but she hoped Xie Lanzhao could fulfill her inexplicable expectation. In Zhao Jialing's daze, six words, flowing like clouds and water, had already landed on the paper.
"Does Your Majesty really have no ideas?" Xie Lanzhao asked.
Zhao Jialing stood to the side, gazing at Xie Lanzao's refined face. Most of the time, she was as serene as the autumn moon, even somewhat aloof. But at this moment, a warm smile could be seen in her eyes. After staring for a while, she blinked, her usually sluggish thoughts suddenly becoming incredibly sharp, and she blurted out, "Then let's say 'The Ming Dynasty's Springtime Locks the Secretariat'."
Xie Lanzhao's eyelids twitched. Without even looking at Zhao Jialing, she said, "What about His Majesty's grand vows? He should read less idle books."
Zhao Jialing's thinking was different from others. She exclaimed "Ah!" and laughed, "You've seen it too?"
Xie Lanzhao didn't want to talk to her.
Zhao Jialing smiled sheepishly, admitting that she had made a mistake and brought up the very thing she shouldn't have.
Her gaze fell on the paper: "There is a way to repay the emperor's kindness—hmm? Why don't you continue?"
Xie Lanzhao gazed at her, then asked with a smile, "What does Your Majesty think should be done to continue this?"
Zhao Jialing: "Whispers throughout the night until the wee hours?"
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